Transition to Mercury Free Mining - Jimmy Reece (GGMC

TransiTion To mercury free mininG jImmy reece - chaIrman (GGmc)

The mining sector in Guyana is a significant contributor to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Approximately 15% of the GDP comes from either employment or downstream businesses associated with the sector. Information emanating from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGMDA) indicate that some 15,000 persons are directly involved in mining and some 75,000 indirectly involved due to downstream activities.

Artisanal and small-scale mining remains significant in the sphere of mining. As per the GGMDA, the small and medium scale miners achieved production of 485,552 ounces of gold for 2020 (which accounts for 75% of the national gold production), totaling USD $808,587,745 in export earnings. This is a substantial improvement as compared to USD $619,988,745 in 2019. The gold sector by itself is said to contribute 64% of the foreign exchange for the country. Conversely, the use of mercury by artisanal, small and medium scale miners is definitely a cause for national concern. This rudimentary mineral extraction and processing of gold that is dependent on mercury can have negative effects on human health and the environment and is especially toxic which when a compound called methyl mercury is formed.

As such, transitioning to mercury-free mining to ensure sustainable development that is cohesive with the preservation of health and our environment is extremely necessary and will therefore require the collective efforts of all relevant stakeholders viz; government, miners, suppliers, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). In an effort to curtail the mercury pollution issue, the government has signed an international agreement. The Minamata Convention is an International Treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. After three years of meeting and negotiating, the Government of Guyana (GoG) signed the Minamata Convention on October 10, 2013 and subsequently ratified or endorsed the Convention on September 24, 2014.

Assiduous efforts are being made to enhance the reduction of mercury pollution and where possible eliminate such pollution from the targeted activities responsible for the major release of mercury to the immediate environment. In agreement with the Convention, the Government is proposing a phase-out approach from the use of Mercury in mining through its National Action Plan that will be submitted to the Minamata Convention in 2021. Having, served in key positions within the mining sector for over two decades, it has been recognized that there are positives surrounding this transition. These include:

• Awareness of mercury and its impact on the environment and well being • Protection by the Government for our Indigenous peoples and their Land Rights • Implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which promotes a Green Economy • Commitment by the GoG to fulfilling its obligations under the Minamata Convention.

Additionally, there remains constraints and limitations to the transition which include but is not limited to: -

• Breaking a psychological background which encompasses generations of traditional use of mercury and its associated health issues • Captivating the interest of small and medium scale investors/operators/miners into the adaptation of mercury-free technology through incentives and financing mechanisms. • Taking control of transboundary issues such as smuggling of mercury and minerals across the borders of Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil and French Guiana. • Mercury use which remains cheaper, easily accessible, simple and a good startup for new entrant miners/investor.

In a webinar hosted by the GCCI on April 1, 2021, I outlined in a presentation the Achievements and work in progress such as Harmonization of Efforts that are being carried out in various projects under nine platforms - Policy and Regulation, Health Aspects, Environmental Health, Occupation, Health and Safety, Monitoring and Evaluation, Technology, Markets, Education, Awareness and Communication. Projects and policy development under all these platforms are necessary for and will aid the transition to mercury-free mining.

To date the following notable efforts have begun to aid the transition to mercury – free mining in Guyana:

1. The Ministry of Health has: i. Drafted a Public Health Mercury Policy; ii. Drafted a Chemical Emergency Response Plan; iii. Developed health & safety guidance to minimize health risk; iv. Initiated a mercury poisoning awareness campaign – to educate the vulnerable population about the health risk of mercury poisoning; v. Prepared treatment guidelines for mercury poisoning; vi. Drafted a plan to avoid mercury exposure; vii. Drafted guidelines to facilitate the cleaning - up mercury or spills; The training of jewelers in the safe handling of mercury - handling during operations, waste collection and disposal; viii. Encouraged the Replacement of mercury thermometers and lights;

TransiTion To mercury free mininG jImmy reece - chaIrman (GGmc)

ix. Explored the Establishment of Poison Centers – to equip healthcare facilities in communities where mercury use is prevalent to respond to mercury poisoning.

2. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB) for the management of the importation of mercury was drafted in August 2019 to coordinate and enhance the procedures for the management of the importation, storage, distribution, use and disposal of mercury. This also speaks to the limitation in importation per year i.e. 1,000 flasks / 34, 500 kg per year. This amount will gradually reduce as alternative technologies come on stream.

3. A National Action Plan (NAP), redevelopment is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed and submitted to the Minamata Secretariat in 2021. The NAP for ASGM constitutes four major areas: The ASGM Sector in Guyana; The Legal and Institutional Framework; A Public Health aspect and a Socio-Economic aspect. The draft final document will be completed by the second quarter of 2021.

4. Alternative and improved mineral recovery methods are promoted by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in an effort to encourage miners to be a part of the transition. These include the use of the modified model of the Sluice Box and promotion of the use of Centrifugal Concentrators for improved gold recovery as well as encouraging the use of equipment such as blue bowl concentrators, gold cubes and shaking tables which can produce a smelter ready gold concentrate as an alternative to the use of mercury.

GGMC has also promoted awareness by conducting a technology survey to provide information on the extent of miners’ knowledge regarding the use of mercury – free alternative technologies.

It is recommended that the following be considered to stimulate the transition to mercury free mining: • Ongoing awareness programs and discussions • Duty free incentives • Licensing of local business person by the dealers of these new technology to reduce cost for miners and allow for suppliers to be available locally • Incentivizing banks to offset the risk associated with lending to such hostile terrain • Consideration for the introduction of a development bank • Emphasis on local content policy • Possible use of a portion of the sovereign wealth fund towards aiding miners to transition • Ensuring training is available to miners at no or low cost to use new technologies that are mercury free • Ensure availability of spares for new technology to avoid production downtime • Development of fabrication skill sets • New technology to be fully tested to ensure it is fully applicable so that it can be embraced by miners. • In the value chain, creation of a certification system for a label such as “Green Gold” so as to secure premium prices for gold that is produced by miners via mercury free mining.

It is believed that with greater collaboration between stakeholders and innovative thinking the transition to mercury-free mining can occur in a win-win manner.